Historic Williamsburg

46. Waters Storehouse

Williamsburg, VA

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The Waters Storehouse is located on the eastern portion of colonial lot 49. Henry Gill was the original owner of this property. He purchased colonial lots 49 and 50 together in 1707 for thirty shillings, erected a structure, and operated a tavern out of his home. Gill passed away around 1720. His heirs retained the property until around 1729 when it passed into the hands of John Gladish, and from there to apothecary Robert Davidson, who established the Davidson Shop. Davidson died in 1738 heavily in debt and without a will, so his property did not sell again until 1744. William Waters, a wealthy plantation owner and slaveholder with no other occupation than that of gentleman, purchased the property from John Gladish in 1754. A storehouse was built on the western portion of the lot somewhere around this time period, and Waters sold that portion of the property around 1760. The storehouse was later used as a general store. It burned down during the great "Harris Fire" of 1842.